GEMINI Geothermal energy on the island of Ireland

Demonstration to Transformation

Over four years the GEMINI project will help reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions associated with heat production, a goal central to EU, UK and Irish strategies to meet 2050 emissions targets.

Geothermal energy is a secure, local, near-zero emissions energy source which is suited to both urban and rural areas, including individual users or networks with large heat demands. The geothermal technologies deployed in this project will use heat energy from the Earth to heat large-scale heating and cooling systems in public sector buildings such as swimming pools, housing projects, utilities offices and a university campus.

Project Partners

Associated Partners

Demonstration sites

€20m/£17m

Investment

Looking down at booted feet on grass littered with autumn leaves

'Shallow' Geothermal Energy

The GEMINI project will install three shallow (less than 500 metres) geothermal energy systems in Sligo Regional Sports Centre (+), the Northern Ireland Housing Executive Centre of Excellence, Belfast (+) and Northern Ireland Water, Belfast. These will provide near-zero emissions heat to public buildings and help to address fuel poverty.

The range of different users will demonstrate the types of facilities that can employ geothermal energy systems.

'Deep' Geothermal Energy

A deep (greater than 500 metres) geothermal system will be developed at the Technological University Dublin campus at Grangegorman, Dublin with additional investigations for geothermal resources in the Antrim area.

The Grangegorman demonstration site will invest in a 2 km deep borehole to demonstrate feasibility in Ireland for a larger scale heat network. More info...

The Antrim area will include data collection and analysis for identifying future geothermal energy opportunities. More info...

A senior man looks out through an open kitchen door smiling

Inclusion & Prosperity

The GEMINI project will include a series of activities aimed at the longer term sustainability and development of the geothermal energy sector on our island. This will include education, skills and training programmes, research (social science, and science and technology), data and toolkits for planners, public engagement programmes, design of business models, and information to support policy across the whole island of Ireland. More info...

“Decarbonisation is a cornerstone of my economic plan. As an alternative to fossil fuels, geothermal energy has a pivotal role to play in decarbonising heat. The Gemini project will demonstrate and promote the benefits of geothermal across the island.”

Conor Murphy, Minister for the Economy, NI (2024-25)

“Importantly the GEMINI project will do more than just deliver infrastructure in the short term. It will also build essential capacity in our planning, education, research and energy design systems, along with best practice for community engagement.”

Minister Eamonn Ryan, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ireland (2020-25)

This project is supported by the PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and endorsed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (Ireland) and Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland).